• Nationwide empowering agents to help standard commercial customers in the wake of COVID-19 impacts
• Mid-term policy changes to reflect reduced exposures one option
• Delivery allowances for retail and restaurant businesses another option
• Hardship assistance for policyholders available

In the midst of unprecedented market forces related to the efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, insurance agents are seeking options to help business clients under pressure.

Nationwide is taking several actions to help agents meet customer needs during a very challenging time.

Mid-term changes

Many business owners may be experiencing rapidly changing exposure levels and are looking for ways to save money. Nationwide is allowing agents to request mid-term adjustments related to reducing exposures for customers.

• Examples that may reduce premium that do not impact coverage:
  • Adjusting Workers’ Compensation, BOP and General Liability estimated exposures
  • Adjusting exposure basis for actual loss sustained coverages
• Examples that may reduce premium that do impact coverage:
  • Increasing deductibles
  • Suspending Collision coverage
  • Reducing coverage limits

Restaurant and Retailer exposures

For existing restaurant and retailer exposures who now engage in food delivery due to COVID-19 restrictions, the company is doing the following:

• Business AutoIf a member has a Restaurant or Retail Business with an existing Nationwide Business Auto policy:
  • Insured coverage for restaurant delivery will be covered under the Business Auto policy. We will liberalize coverage as follows:
    • For any policy that does not currently provide hired and non-owned auto, we will be instructing claims to adjust the loss as if we have added coverage symbols 8 and 9
    • There is no need for underwriting or the agency to make any change to the existing auto policy
    • As this is a liberalization of coverage for a limited period, there will be no additional charge
  • Restaurant risks that utilize third party delivery (Uber Eats, Grub Hub, Door Dash, Postmates, etc.) are eligible for coverage
• BOP/PackageIf the insured has an existing BOP or Package coverage but no Auto coverage, we will liberalize coverage as follows:
  • Multi-Line Restaurant and Retailer risks that began engaging in limited delivery due to COVID-19 restrictions are eligible if no other auto coverage applies
  • The BOP or GL Occurrence Limit will apply
  • As this is a liberalization in coverage, the umbrella coverage will not be applicable to auto losses
  • There is no need for underwriting or the agency to make any change to the existing policy
  • As this is a liberalization of coverage for a limited period, there will be no additional charge

• To prevent claims and to promote safety, Nationwide is encouraging business customers to incorporate one or more of the following forms into their company’s driver safety program:

• • Safe Driving Commitment Form (Non-Owned Vehicle Operators)
  • Non-Owned Vehicle Driver Safety Orientation Checklist
  • Non-Owned Vehicle Authorization and Operation Form
  • Vehicle Inspection Report Form

Billing and service

As a company dedicated to protecting people, businesses and futures, we are committed to your success and want to ensure customers don’t suffer additional hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agents aware of customers that require assistance with the payment of their insurance premium should contact us at CLService@nationwide.com. In many cases we can help with the extension of due dates and/or the waiving of late fees. Nationwide will comply with legal and regulatory orders.

Additional Resources

To address challenges many businesses are facing, we’re regularly sharing safety resources through Mylosscontrolservices.com to help business owners understand how to best protect their employees now and in the future. Our library of resources spans multiple industries and includes topics ranging from maintaining closed or idle work facilities to setting up temporary restaurant delivery operations.